Folding table



May 18, 192 5. 1,585,569

a. R. STINE FOLDING TABLE Filed July 2, 192

l t lay 1.5%,

UNFTEQ' GEORGE E. S'IINE, 0F VIGKSBUBG, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed July 2, 1924. Serial Ne. 723,898.

This invention relates to a folding table, and particularly to that type employed for camping purposes.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the con struction and operation of folding tables of the character described; to provide a separable top and leg structure; to provide a top, consisting of two hingedly connected sections, foldable to form a box-like struc ture and which may be conveniently han dled and stored in a minimum of space to provide a leg structure which may be folded and placed within the box formed by the table top sections; and further, to provide a pair of brace irons on each end of the table, which are also adapted to be concealed within the table top and by which the legs may be braced and secured when the table top is extended.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View, partly broken away, showing the table in unfolded or extended position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the table in folded position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates, in general, the table top, and B and C the legs supporting the same. The table top is in this instance constructed of two sections such as indicated at 2 and 3. These sections are hingedly connected, as at 4:, and thus permit folding or extension of the table top, as will hereinafter be described.

The table top when folded assumes a boxlike structure, as shown in Fig. 2, and sufficient space is provided within the boxlike structure to receive the legs B and G and the brace irons generally indicated at D. To form the space thus required, side and end strips such as shown at 5 and 6 are secured to each tabletop section, such as shown at 2 and 3. These strips are nailed or otherwise secured to the respective table top sections and they are of suflicient thickness and depth to provide the inerior space required when the table top is folded to form the box-like structure shown in Fig. 2. They also serve the function of reinforcing the table top sections, and they further serve the function of receiving and securing the upper ends of the table legs indicated at B and C.

The table legs are arranged in pairs, as shown at 7 and 8, each pair of legs being pivotally connected by passing a bolt there relation to the table top sections when the table is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, and

for the purpose of bracing the table as a whole, brace irons D are employed and similarly end cleats, as shown at 10. There are four cleats employed. These are secured to the under side of the table top sections 2 and 3 and each corner thereof, and they are interspaced with relation to the end sections 6 a distance equal to the thickness of the legs. In other words the space formed between the cleats and the end and side sections forms pockets into which the upper ends of the legs are inserted. They are here secured by means of the brace irons and this is accomplished as follows:

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that two brace irons are employed'at each end of the table, one brace iron being vertically disposed, as shown at 11, and the other angularly disposed, as indicated at 12. Both brace irons are pivotally secured, as at 13 and 14, to the inner side strips 5* and they are foldable with relation thereto. The lower ends of the brace irons are slotted laterally, as shown at 16, to permit them to be passed over the ends of the bolts 9, and they are here secured by means of a wing nut 17 or any other suitable clamping means.

In actual operation if the table is folded, as shown in Fig. 2, and it is desired to extend the same and apply the legs, it is accomplished by first releasing the hooks shown at 18, by which the table top sections are secured when folded. The sections are then unfolded with relation to each other, as indicated by dotted lines at 19 in Fig. 2. The legs are then removed and spread apart, as shown in Fig. l, and their upper ends are inserted between the cleats 10 and the end sections 6. The brace irons 11 and 12, which normally lie parallel with the side sections 5 are then swung about their pivots 13 and 14 and their lower ends are passed behind the Wing nuts 17 and are there secured by tightening the nuts, and the operation of assembling and extending the table is thereby completed.

The table top sections when assembled are retained against folding movement about their hinges 4, as they are supported on the upper ends of the legs 7 and 8. The legs in turn are secured against removal with relation to the cleats 10 and the end sections 6 by the vertical brace irons 11 as these Will prevent the legs from being pulled a vay from the table top, and as the angularly disposed braces 12 are also employechthe table as a whole is materially stiffened and braced against endwiseor other racking movement,

The structure as a Whole is exceedingly substantial and rigid when assembled and serves admirably the purpose or a campers table or the like.

The operation of opening and extending the table and similarly that of taking apart or closing it when not required consumes a minimum of time, and as a compact boxlike structure is produced when the structure is closed, it can readily be seen that it can be easily placed wherever convenient on an automobile, or otherwise.

While certain features of the present invcntion are more or less specifically illustrated, I Wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be re sorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and udgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

ture, cleats secured to the under side of the table adjacent the outercorners thereof, said cleats and ad acent end sections forming pockets for the reception oi table legs, a pair of pivotally connected table legs for each end of the table, the upper ends of which are adapted to be received by the pockets, a pair of iron braces pivotally secured tot-he inner side section of each table top, threaded bolt forming the pivotal con nection for each pair or legs, said bolt permitting the legs to be folded parallel and to be placed Within the box-like structure formed by the table top sections when folded, a side brace iron adapted to be folded parallel with the under side of the table top sections and adapted to be contained within the box-like structure, said brace iron adapted to be extended when the legs are unfolded to support the table top, one brace of each pair assuming a vertical position when ex tended and one brace of each pair assuming an angular position When extended, and a Wing nut on each bolt engageable with the brace iron and adapted to secure the respective brace irons to the table legs when these are placed in position under the table and extended.

GEORGE R. STINE. 

